Thanks to the situation he held, he was in a position to know the date on which the convoy's departure was to take place.

He alone could have informed the smugglers.

He was charged, arrested, tried, and sentenced to death.

Such a sentence required his execution in twenty-four hours." "Was the fellow executed ?" asked Fragoso.
"No," replied Torres; "they shut him up in the prison at Villa Rica, and during the night, a few hours only before his execution, whether alone or helped by others, he managed to escape." "Has this young man been heard of since ?" asked Joam Garral.
"Never," replied Torres.

"He probably left Brazil, and now, in some distant land, lives a cheerful life with the proceeds of the robbery which he is sure to have realized." "Perhaps, on the other hand, he died miserably!" answered Joam Garral.
"And, perhaps," added Padre Passanha, "Heaven caused him to feel remorse for his crime." Here they all rose from the table, and, having finished their dinner, went out to breathe the evening air.